Method of playing a poker-type card game

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method of playing a poker-type card game where one or more players place an initial wager, receive three cards, discard one card, place optional side bets and one additional required bet prior to a five-card community flop, with the outcome being resolved by a predetermined payout schedule. Another aspect of the present invention involves the dealer assessing a player&#39;s hole cards in combination with the community cards, allowing a player&#39;s hole cards to match rank with the community cards, and awarding payouts according to a predetermined payout schedule based on whether one or both of the player&#39;s hole cards are included in the highest-ranking five-card poker hand using standard poker hand rankings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 61/451,699 filed on Mar. 11, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to card games and more particularly to poker-type card games suitable for use in gaming establishments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Of the card games played in a casino, poker games, in particular, have increased in popularity. These games typically require a standard deck of playing cards, a suitable gaming table, a dealer, and two or more players. Standard poker rankings are used to determine each player's poker hand. The player with the highest-ranking hand at the end of a round wins the community pot. Some variations of these games have become more popular than others. One such popular game is Texas Hold'em.

Texas Hold'em is a popular seven-card poker game. It is usually played on a large oval gaming table, which can seat a multiple number of players. A dealer button is rotated clockwise by one player position at the end of each round to determine where cards will be dealt first at the beginning of the next round. There are usually one or two required initial bets (blinds) to be placed by the players immediately to the left of the dealer button. Players are dealt two cards face down (hole cards) and make bets prior to three community cards (the flop) being turned faceup by the dealer. At each round of betting, the players have the option to forfeit all bets placed thus far (fold), match the last bet made (call), or increase the most current bet wagered (raise). After the flop, and a round of betting has occurred, the dealer turns a fourth community card (the turn) faceup next to the other community cards. Another round of betting occurs, after which the dealer turns up a fifth community card (the river). A last round of betting occurs. The remaining players then turn their hole cards faceup for resolution by the dealer. The dealer resolves the round of play by assessing and awarding the community pot (a collection of all bets wagered during the round less a percentage for the house) to the player who achieved the highest-ranking five-card poker hand using a combination of the five community cards and each player's two hole cards.

Pineapple is a popular variation of Texas Hold'em. This variation starts out with the same initial wagers (blinds) as in Texas Hold'em. However, the dealer initially deals three cards face down to each player instead of two cards as in Texas Hold'em. A round of betting occurs and the remaining players must discard one hole card (leaving the player with two hole cards) prior to the three-card community flop by the dealer. The rest of the round is played the same as Texas Hold'em.

Some of the poker games began to add special incentives. One of these incentives is the “Jackpot”. This incentive is a payout that occurs when a player achieves a specific high-ranking hand while playing against other players. The establishment usually makes this payout to the player for promotional purposes.

A more popular incentive is the “Bad Beat”. This incentive is a payout to one or more players for achieving a particular pair of high-ranking hands according to a predetermined payout schedule that varies between gaming establishments. The payout usually comes from a community pot contributed into by all players. Usually, the qualifying hand is Four of a Kind or better, beaten by a higher-ranking hand. However, some establishments lower the requirements to insure more frequent payouts. For example, the Bad Beat requirement could be a Full House, “Aces Full of Jacks” beaten by a higher-ranking poker hand. Usually, Bad Beat hands have one additional requirement that “both” of the hole cards in each player's hand must be included in their qualifying five-card poker hand. However, some establishments lower this requirement, as well, to insure more frequent payouts. Thus, sometimes this requirement is lowered to “one” of the hole cards in each player's hand having to be included in their qualifying five-card poker hand.

Experimentation with various attributes and methods of play has led to a number of variations on the poker theme. Some of these poker-type games have been adapted for play on semi-circular gaming tables which are usually found in the blackjack section of a gaming establishment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,081 is a poker-type card game where one or more players try to achieve a minimum hand against a predetermined payout schedule. It involves players placing three initial bets, receiving three cards, and having an option to remove one of the bets before continuing. The dealer turns over one of his two community cards and offers the players the option to remove another bet before continuing. The players decide and the dealer turns over the last of his two community cards. The players' cards are exposed, making a five-card poker hand for each player. The dealer resolves the remaining bets according to a payout schedule.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,430 is a poker-type game for two or more players. It is played at a semi-circular gaming table and includes a button for use in a rotating player-bank position. Players must place all their bets before they see their hole cards. Each player is dealt three hole cards with the requirement of discarding one card. The dealer flops five community cards and the players make a five-card poker hand from the combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards. It includes side-betting pools where unseated persons may pool bets with seated players. There are also alternatives, which require that only one or both of the hole cards be used. The game can also be played with or without a player-bank. Players win by achieving a higher-ranking poker hand than that of the player-bank. Alternatively, a player can win by achieving the highest-ranking poker hand among the other players at the table.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774 is a poker-type game where one or more players have an initial option to make an ante wager against the dealer's hand and/or against the value of their hand compared to a predetermined payout schedule, prior to being dealt any cards. The dealer then deals three cards to each player and three cards to himself. After cards are dealt, each player who wants to continue playing against the dealer or the value of their hand ranking against a payout schedule must place one additional required bet. After all bets are made, the dealer reveals his cards and resolves each player's hand. Those players who had initially placed a side bet before cards were dealt will be awarded payouts according to a payout schedule with one pair being a minimum qualifier for a payout. Those players who also played against the dealer will have their hands resolved by having a better hand than that of the dealer. The dealer must have a qualifying hand of a queen or better and those players who bet against the dealer and achieved a better hand will win even money on their ante and play bets. In addition, those players achieving a three-card hand ranking of a Straight, Three of a Kind or Straight Flush, are awarded an extra or bonus payout according to a payout schedule.

The poker-type games described above have several features in common along with some unique ones. However, upon further inspection, some deficiencies become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Most casino players and establishments expect a game played at a blackjack-type table to be playable by only one player without having to wait for additional players. Consequently, those games requiring two or more players at these types of tables will be at a severe disadvantage.

While some players have a mode of thinking which invokes thoughts of limiting their risk, others prefer to increase their risk if they feel they have an advantage over the house or other players. Those games that provide an option to increase risk as the game continues tend to provide a more exciting gaming experience.

Card games that give the players a certain amount of interaction after receiving cards have a clear advantage over those that do not. However, those games that involve too many steps or options can slow down the excitement of the game.

While some poker players like the excitement and social aspect of gambling together at the same table, others may not like the confrontational aspect that comes with betting against another player, the dealer, or their poker hands. Some players prefer a less confrontational gaming experience by playing against house odds shown on a payout schedule.

Many of the attributes found in traditional poker games requiring two or more players, including Texas Hold'em, Pineapple, Bad Beats, and Jackpots, need to be included in poker-type games played at suitable gaming tables requiring one or more players and based on a predetermined payout schedule.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of playing a poker-type card game where one or more players place an initial wager, receive three cards, discard one card, place optional side bets and one additional required bet prior to a five-card community flop, with the outcome being resolved by a predetermined payout schedule.

Another aspect of the present invention involves the dealer assessing a player's hole cards in combination with the community cards, allowing a player's hole cards to match rank with the community cards, and awarding payouts according to a payout schedule based on whether one or both of the player's hole cards are included in the highest ranking five-card poker hand.

The present invention includes an opportunity for a player to place one or more wagers after receiving hole cards. Furthermore, based on a predetermined payout schedule, the present invention provides an opportunity for a player to receive a payout even if the player was unable to achieve the highest ranking five-card poker hand using both of his/her hole cards.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a variation of a familiar poker game, “Pineapple” (a variation of Texas Hold'em), combined with the excitement found in “Bad Beats” and “Jackpots”.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new poker-type card game which can be played by one or more players on a semi-circular gaming table, include attributes found in “Pineapple”, “Bad Beats”, and “Jackpots”, and be based on a predetermined payout schedule.

The present invention requires the use of a standard deck of playing cards, a semi-circular gaming table with a suitable layout for play of the present invention, player chips or tokens, a dealer, and one or more players.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a gaming table suitable for play of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of the player's betting area on the gaming table.

FIG. 2 is a layout of a payout schedule used in connection with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Casino table play of the present invention involves a standard deck of 52 playing cards, a dealer, a typical semi-circular gaming table, player chips or tokens, and at least one or more players.

FIG. 1 shows an aerial view of a typical semi-circular gaming table 10 with a surface layout suitable for playing one method of the current invention. The curved side 12 will accommodate one to seven players while the straight side 14 is reserved for the dealer. Any locations on the surface of the table not essential for play of the game may be used for displaying the name of the game, a logo, or other casino purposes.

The dealer/banker's position is located behind the chip tray area 18 at the center of the straight side 14. This location provides the dealer with easy access to the card processing areas 16, the chip tray area 18, and the dealer's display area 20. From this location, the dealer/banker is also able to exchange currency for players' chips, deal cards, collect chips, and award payouts. The discard line 22 assists the dealer in collecting discards from the players. References made to the dealer, regarding the present invention, shall be understood to include the banker/house functions as well, when appropriate.

The dealer's display area 20 contains two smaller areas: the community cards display area 24, and the hole cards display area 26. These two areas assist the dealer in resolving hands and awarding payouts.

The gaming table 10 shows seven betting areas 28 for players to place wagers and receive cards. The number of betting areas may be reduced to provide more room for players around the table without compromising the method of play.

Each player will be receiving cards (hole cards) and placing wagers in his/her respective betting area 28. FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of one of the betting areas 28 showing betting spots 30, 32, 34, and 36. It also includes a hole cards waiting spot 38 where a player will put his hole cards after placing all wagers in a round of play.

FIG. 2 shows a payout schedule 40, which players will use for assessing their hole cards and the dealer will use for resolving hands and awarding payouts. This payout schedule 40 includes a summarization of the rules and requirements for achieving winning poker hands. The payout schedule 40 will be included in rules brochures located at each gaming table. It may also be printed on separate payout cards and/or on the table surface at locations suitable for viewing from each player's betting area 28. FIG. 1 shows four locations 40-1, 40-2, 40-3, and 40-4 on the gaming table 10, which would provide suitable viewing of the payout schedule 40 by all players.

The payout schedule 40 includes four categories of payouts corresponding to each of the four betting spots in the player's betting area 28. The four categories of payouts are:

1. Ante/Bad Beat Payout 42

2. Play Payouts 44

3. Bonus Payouts 46

4. Super Bonus Payouts 48

The Ante/Bad Beat Payout 42 category consists of a payout for a wager placed on the ANTE betting spot 30, provided only ONE of the player's hole cards plays in the highest ranking five-card hand and said hand meets the high hand payout requirement for this category.

The preferred high hand payout in the Ante/Bad Beat Payout 42 category is:

-   -   Full House or Better . . . 10/1

The Play Payout 44 category consists of a list of payouts for a wager placed on the PLAY betting spot 36, provided BOTH of the player's hole cards play in the highest ranking five-card hand and said hand is on the list of high hand payouts for this category.

The preferred list of high hand payouts in the Play Payouts 46 category is:

-   -   One Pair . . . 1/1     -   Two Pair . . . 2/1     -   Three of a Kind or Better . . . 3/1

The Bonus Payouts 46 category consists of a list of payouts for a wager placed on the BONUS betting spot 32, provided BOTH of the player's hole cards play in the highest ranking five-card hand and said hand is on the list of high hand payouts for this category.

The preferred list of high hand payouts in the Bonus Payouts 46 category is:

-   -   Straight . . . 4/1     -   Flush . . . 5/1     -   Full House . . . 7/1

The Super Bonus Payouts 48 category consists of a list of payouts for a wager placed on the SUPER BONUS betting spot 34, provided BOTH of the player's hole cards play in the highest ranking five-card hand, and said hand is on the list of high hand payouts for this category.

The preferred list of high hand payouts in the Super Bonus Payouts 48 category is:

-   -   Four of a Kind . . . 25/1     -   Straight Flush . . . 100/1     -   Royal Flush . . . 250/1

The dealer collects all non-winning or non-payout bets, according to the payout schedule 40, before paying out on any winning bets of the player. The odds in the payout schedule 40 may vary according to the rules of the game and/or casino. The arrangement of high hand payouts within or between each category on the payout schedule 40 may also vary according to the rules of the game and/or casino.

“Hole card rank-matching” is allowed for a player to achieve the highest-ranking five-card poker hand. This means a player's hole card or cards can match the rank of a card or cards in the community flop and still qualify as a highest ranking five-card hand using one or both of the player's hole cards. The dealer must use the “hole card rank-matching” rule, when appropriate, in determining a player's highest-ranking five-card poker hand. This rule is also listed in the payout schedule 40 as a reminder to players and the dealer.

Players will have an opportunity to wager on the odds of obtaining winning hands based on the payout schedule 40 by placing player chips or tokens on the betting spots in each player's betting area 28. All bets placed by the player must be equal to the initial wager but may vary according to the rules of the game and/or casino.

The dealer will discard one card from the top of the deck at the beginning of each round before dealing three cards to each player, and again just before flopping five community cards faceup in the community cards area 24. The dealer's discards are placed in one of the card processing areas 16 or in a standard discard rack. Players' discards taken from the arch shaped discard line 22, are also placed in one of the card processing areas 16, or in a standard discard rack.

The dealer may, at his option, or by rule of the casino, nudge the five cards selected as the highest-ranking five-card poker hand, slightly forward from the alignment of cards not selected in the display areas. This nudging technique will assist the dealer in showing each player which cards have been selected as the highest-ranking five-card hand. This procedure is common practice in most casino poker games.

Each player will not be playing against each other or the dealer, but against the odds of obtaining the highest-ranking five-card poker hand from the combination of a player's hole cards and the five-card community flop along with the following provisions:

-   -   1. One or both of the player's hole cards must be included in         the highest-ranking five-card hand.     -   2. A player is allowed to match hole cards with community cards         of the same rank to achieve a highest-ranking five-card hand.     -   3. The poker hand achieved must be on the high hand payouts         listed under the category wagered on by the player.

Any player who exposes his/her hand to other players during a round of play may have their hand declared dead by the dealer and forfeit all wagers for that round according to the rules of the game and/or casino.

Once a player places his/her hole cards on the hole cards waiting spot 38 and under the edge of his/her Play bet, no more bets are allowed by the player for that round.

Any player having three hole cards in the hole cards waiting spot 38 after the five-card community flop, shall have a dead hand and forfeit all wagers for that round according to the rules of the game and/or casino.

Each player will have an opportunity to place an initial ANTE wager and to fold or continue by discarding one of his/her three hole cards on the arch shaped discard line 22 directly above each player's ANTE betting spot 30. Each player will have an opportunity to place an optional bet on the BONUS betting spot 32 and/or the SUPER BONUS betting spot 34. Each player who continues to the end of the round will be required to place one additional wager on the PLAY betting spot 36 before the dealer flops five community cards faceup in the community cards area 24. After all bets have been placed and the five-card community flop has occurred, the dealer will remove each player's hole cards, in turn, place them faceup in the hole cards display area 26, and resolve the hands according to the payout schedule 40.

The steps involved in playing the preferred method of the game are as follows:

-   -   1. The dealer shuffles the deck.     -   2. Each player places an initial wager on the ANTE betting spot         30 in the player's betting area 28.     -   3. The dealer then discards one card from the top of the deck,         face down, to one of the card processing areas 16 and, starting         from his/her left, deals three (hole) cards, face down, to each         player in the players' betting areas 28.     -   4. Each player then examines his/her three hole cards and         decides which two cards, if any, have the possibility of being         included in a winning five-card poker hand according to the         payout schedule 40.     -   5. After having assessed his/her three hole cards, each player         must either:         -   (a) Fold by discarding all three hole cards to the discard             line 22 directly above each player's ANTE betting spot 30,             and forfeiting the ANTE wagered, or         -   (b) Discard one hole card face down to the discard line 22             and retain the two remaining hole cards for continuance of             play.     -   6. To continue play, each player has an option to place an         additional side bet, equal to the ANTE wager, on the BONUS         betting spot 32 and/or the SUPER BONUS betting spot 34.     -   7. To complete the betting prior to the community flop, each         player must place one additional required bet, equal to the ANTE         wager, on the PLAY betting spot 36.     -   8. Upon completion of the PLAY bet and any optional BONUS side         bets, each player places his/her hole cards on the hole cards         waiting spot 38 and under the edge of the PLAY bet.     -   9. The dealer, after determining that all remaining players have         placed their hole cards face down under the edge of their PLAY         bet, discards one card from the top of the deck, face down, to         one of the card processing areas 16, and turns the next five         cards faceup in the community cards area 24.     -   10. Starting from the dealer's left, the dealer removes the         first player's two hole cards and places them faceup in the hole         cards display area 26.     -   11. The dealer then examines the combination of cards displayed         in the community cards display area 24 and the hole cards         display area 26. From this examination, using standard poker         hand rankings, the dealer determines the highest-ranking         five-card poker hand. When the same highest-ranking five-card         poker hand can be made by using either the community cards or         the player's hole cards of the same ranking, the dealer will use         the player's hole cards.     -   12. If the dealer determines that the highest-ranking five-card         poker hand is ONE PAIR OR BETTER and includes BOTH of the         player's hole cards, the dealer will proceed to the payout         schedule 40.         -   (a) The dealer will then determine which payouts correspond             to bets made by the player in the player's betting area 28.         -   (b) The dealer will collect the ANTE wager and any             non-winning BONUS or SUPER BONUS wagers made by the player.         -   (c) The dealer will then award a payout to the player on the             PLAY bet according to the list of high hand payouts under             the Play Payouts category 44.         -   (d) The dealer will then award a payout to the player on the             BONUS bet according to the list of high hand payouts under             the Bonus Payouts category 46, provided the player had             placed an optional side bet on the BONUS betting spot 32.         -   (e) The dealer will then award a payout to the player on the             SUPER BONUS bet according to the list of high hand payouts             under the Super Bonus Payouts category 48, provided the             player had placed an optional side bet on the SUPER BONUS             betting spot 34.     -   13. If the dealer determines that the highest-ranking five-card         poker hand is a FULL HOUSE or better but uses only ONE of the         player's hole cards, the dealer will declare a BAD BEAT. He/she         will then collect all non-winning bets and award a payout to the         player on the ANTE wager, according to the high hand payout         listed under the Ante/Bad Beat Payout category 42 in the payout         schedule 40.     -   14. After resolving the first player's hand, the dealer will         remove that player's hole cards from the hole cards display area         26 and place them with the other discards in one of the card         processing areas 16 or in a standard discard rack.     -   15. The dealer will then continue on to the next player at the         table using that player's hole cards, the same five-card         community flop, and the same method of determination, until all         players' hands have been resolved.     -   16. When all continuing players' hands have been resolved, the         round is over. The dealer then collects all the cards and         shuffles again in preparation for the next round of play.

In an alternative version of play, a “surrender” option may be included where a player folds after receiving his hole cards and prior to any additional betting or the community flop. In this situation, the dealer (house) would take half of the player's ante and return the other half to the player.

In another alternative version of play where there is only one player, the dealer may deal the player's hole cards faceup in the player's betting area 28. All other aspects of playing the game would remain the same.

The description herein refers to casino table play of the present invention. However, it becomes readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the method of play can be adapted for use on board games, video slot machines, computers, and other electronic devices. 

1. A method of playing a card game for one or more players involving wagering, the use of a standard deck of playing cards, standard poker hand rankings, a predetermined payout schedule, and comprising the steps of: (a) each player placing an initial wager to participate; (b) each player being dealt three hole cards face down; (c) each player having the option to fold and surrender his/her initial bet or continue; (d) each player continuing to play must discard one hole card and retain the remaining two hole cards; (d) each player being given the option to place one or two additional side bets; (f) each player continuing to play being required to place one additional play bet prior to the flop by the dealer; (g) the dealer flopping five cards face up as community cards; (h) the dealer placing each player's hole cards, in turn, in the dealer area above the flop for comparison; (i) the dealer determining the best possible five-card poker hand that can be made using each player's hole cards in combination with the community cards. (i) the dealer resolving whether the best five-card poker hand of each player includes one or both of the player's hole cards; (j) the dealer awarding payouts to those players whose poker hand: (1) includes one or both of the player's hole cards in the best five-card poker hand, and (2) meets the minimum poker hand ranking requirement shown on a predetermined payout schedule for each bet wagered.
 2. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 wherein the dealer awards payouts to those players whose poker hand: (1) includes only one of the player's hole cards in the best five-card poker hand, and (2) meets the minimum poker hand ranking requirement shown on a predetermined payout schedule for each bet wagered.
 3. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 wherein the dealer awards payouts to those players whose poker hand: (1) includes both of the player's hole cards in the best five-card poker hand, and (2) meets the minimum poker hand ranking requirement shown on a predetermined payout schedule for each bet wagered.
 4. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1 wherein a player may surrender his/her hole cards prior to the flop as an alternative version of play. 